Sea of empty seats at Terps game

Amid the turmoil of the past week, Maryland played Michigan State with a chance to become bowl eligible. But, once again this season, the action on the field at College Park came secondary to the happenings outside the lines.

The story at Maryland has not been about who was there, but who wasn't. On Saturday it was Matt Canada on the sideline coaching the Terrapins, not D.J. Durkin, who was fired about 24 hours after being reinstated by the Board of Regents.

Before the game it was Ellis McKennie running on the field carrying the No. 79 flag, in honor of Jordan McNair. McKennie tweeted earlier in the week his displeasure with the Board of Regents, saying "Every Saturday my teammates and I have to kneel before the memorial of our fallen teammate. Yet a group of people do not have the courage to hold anyone accountable for his death. If only they could have the courage that Jordan had. It’s never the wrong time to do what’s right."

And of course it's Ellis McKennie holding the No. 79 flag coming onto the field. He grew up on the same street as Jordan McNair and has been one of the team's most prominent voices this week.